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Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news on the impact of the environment on human health. EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and its content is free online. Print issues are available by paid subscription.DISCLAIMER
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Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 110, Number 11, November 2002 Open Access
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Analysis of the Biological and Chemical Reactivity of Zeolite-Based Aluminosilicate Fibers and Particulates

Estelle Fach,1 W. James Waldman,2,3 Marshall Williams,3 John Long,4 Richard K. Meister,4 and Prabir K. Dutta1

1Department of Chemistry, 2Department of Pathology, 3Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics, and 4Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Abstract

Environmental and/or occupational exposure to minerals, metals, and fibers can cause lung diseases that may develop years after exposure to the agents. The presence of toxic fibers such as asbestos in the environment plus the continuing development of new mineral or vitreous fibers requires a better understanding of the specific physical and chemical features of fibers/particles responsible for bioactivity. Toward that goal, we have tested aluminosilicate zeolites to establish biological and chemical structure-function correlations. Zeolites have known crystal structure, are subject to experimental manipulation, and can be synthesized and controlled to produce particles of selected size and shape. Naturally occurring zeolites include forms whose biological activity is reported to range from highly pathogenic (erionite) to essentially benign (mordenite) . Thus, we used naturally occurring erionite and mordenite as well as an extensively studied synthetic zeolite based on faujasite (zeolite Y) . Bioactivity was evaluated using lung macrophages of rat origin (cell line NR8383) . Our objective was to quantitatively determine the biological response upon interaction of the test particulates/fibers with lung macrophages and to evaluate the efficacy of surface iron on the zeolites to promote the Fenton reaction. The biological assessment included measurement of the reactive oxygen species by flow cytometry and chemiluminescence techniques upon phagocytosis of the minerals. The chemical assessment included measuring the hydroxyl radicals generated from hydrogen peroxide by iron bound to the zeolite particles and fibers (Fenton reaction) . Chromatography as well as absorption spectroscopy were used to quantitate the hydroxyl radicals. We found that upon exposure to the same mass of a specific type of particulate, the oxidative burst increased with decreasing particle size, but remained relatively independent of zeolite composition. On the other hand, the Fenton reaction depended on the type of zeolite, suggesting that the surface structure of the zeolite plays an important role. Key words: , , , , , . Environ Health Perspect 110:1087-1096 (2002) . [Online 12 September 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p1087-1096fach/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to P.K. Dutta, Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1185 USA. Telephone: (614) 292-4532. Fax: (614) 688-5402. E-mail: dutta.1@osu.edu

We thank R. Kristovitch and H. Lee for assistance with some of the measurements. We thank the reviewers for helpful comments, especially regarding the role of surface area versus size.

Funding was obtained from The Ohio State University and the National Science Foundation (CHE- 0089147) .

Received 15 October 2001 ; accepted 29 March 2002.

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